Whether your breath is taken away by its looks or not (compared to the Mazda 6 and Mazda 3), there’s little denying that it’s a far cry from the outgoing model – for once, it no longer looks like a hatch with a boot grafted on.

The 1.5 litre SkyActiv-D-engined version is Thailand’s first diesel-powered Eco Car, and it has been approved for Phase 2 of the programme. The numbers to beat are 23.3 km per litre and 100 grams of CO2 per km – the 105 hp oil burner, when connected to a six-speed auto with i-stop stop/start system, does 26.4 km per litre in the Japanese cycle.

At that point, it will collectively make Thailand the first country outside Japan to undertake comprehensive production of Mazdas (including gearbox, engine and vehicle assembly).

When the new Mazda 2 Sedan launches in Thailand early next year, it will be equipped with features such as MZD Connect, HMI touch-screen with Commander Control knob, Active Driving Display, i-stop and i-Eloop regenerative braking. We already have a good idea of what the Malaysian Mazda 2 Sedan will feature in terms of equipment – provisional specifications came about last month.

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.